Mexico town buries dead after clashes between police, teachers

The mother of Jesus Cadena, who died last Sunday during the clearing of the highway by police, is comforted by relatives, in Nochixtlan, in Oaxaca state, Mexico. (Eduardo Verdugo/AP)

By Christopher Sherman / AP

The small town of Nochixtlan in southern Mexico buried three of its own Tuesday, two days after a clash between police and protesters left eight dead.

Residents in the town in Oaxaca state accused police of opening fire during a confrontation involving protesters and striking radical teachers, killing several people including 19-year-old Jesus Cadena Sanchez.

Federal and state police had moved in to remove a highway roadblock on the outskirts of Nochixtlan on Sunday. By late morning shots rang out. Though who started shooting is disputed, journalists filmed police firing their weapons. Eight were killed and more than 100 injured.

The crowd at Cadena’s funeral was defiant. They blamed authorities and chanted that his death be avenged.

The first step forward could come Wednesday when the Mexican government and representatives of the dissident teachers’ union will hold talks.

The Interior Department said in a statement that the talks will seek to find solutions that allow for a return to peace in regions that have seen turbulent protests recently.